Dozens of elephants killed near Botswana wildlife sanctuary

[Mrs. Overall]

Source: BBC

Carcases of nearly 90 elephants have been found near a famous wildlife sanctuary in Botswana, conservationists say.

Elephants Without Borders, which is conducting an aerial survey, said the scale of poaching deaths is the largest seen in Africa.

The spike coincides with Botswana's anti-poaching unit being disarmed. Botswana has the world's largest elephant population, but poachers have been breaching its border.

The scientist carrying out the extensive wildlife survey said many of the 87 dead elephants were killed for their tusks just weeks ago - and that five white rhinos have been poached in three months.

"I'm shocked, I'm completely astounded. The scale of elephant poaching is by far the largest I've seen or read about anywhere in Africa to date," said Dr Mike Chase from Elephants Without Borders.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-45396394?ocid=socialflow_twitter

[Hotler]

1. .........

[sinkingfeeling]

2. There needs a massive international effort to stop the ivory trade.

[Achilleaze]

3. "Damn. That's a super stanky karmic omen for us KGOP repubes." - Dirty Donny Junior* (R)

* aka spawn of the republican draft-dodger-in-chief

[randr]

9. Anyone who does not think guns are penile projections needs to study this portrait of a real MFer

[Metro135]

11. A piece of living shit if there ever was one.

[uppityperson]

15. His knife is shiny clean.

[Me.]

4. Sickening

Bastards

[NickB79]

5. Why did they disarm the anti-poaching units?!?

Give those brave souls all the firepower they need to hunt down these scum 😣

[PennyK]

6. Apparently, budget cuts

Horrendous.

[mr_lebowski]

7. Now THIS, I would support sending troops overseas for (as part of a UN contingent)

This needs to stop, and the guilty parties brought to quick and severe justice.

Elephant and Rhino Poachers are the f***ing SCUM OF THE EARTH.

[bluestarone]

8. You know what?

I WOULD TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is TOTAL BULLSHIT!!!!!!!

[alphafemale]

12. Start hunting down the assholes trafficking and buying it.

Lead is cheap.

[onit2day]

18. Killing animals for sport, bringing back lion's heads as trophies.

America should be taking the lead not condoning or legalizing trophy hunters.

[NickB79]

21. These elephants weren't killed by trophy hunters

They were killed by poachers. If anything, game preserves in southern Africa that are managed for hunting have some of the most stable herds left, because the owners are able to spend large sums of money protecting the game animals there. A $40,000 trophy giraffe buys a lot of equipment and security.

Bear in mind, these elephants died because the Botswanan government lacked funds to protect their herds.

If you could ban all trophy hunting today, you would only accelerate the extinction of these species, not save them.

[pazzyanne]

19. One more reason to dispise tRump and his administration.

I would support UN troop intervention 100%. I am so tired of fighting a losing battle to preserve the wildlife of our world. They are irreplaceable treasures beyond these craven men's "need" for aphrodisiac use, expediency for the lazy, and for mounted heads for their walls. It sickens me every time I see or hear this is happening. Guess I have been fighting for animal rights for so long that I support a military intervention in this one!

[jmbar2]

10. I am heartsick. Responsibility needs to go to the root cause - the Chinese

They are the largest market for ivory and rhino horn, mostly for their pricks.

Why does the whole world have to be destroyed for men's pricks?

[Duppers]

25. AMEN!! +1000

Been saying this. They can take their carved irony and stuff it.
CHINA!!

[roamer65]

13. Start building up lion guard prides, Botswana.

...and if poachers are caught, feed them them TO the lions. Take video of it and distribute it.

[Coventina]

16. I like this idea and would like to subscribe to your newsletter!

[NickB79]

20. Lions are also being killed

If not by poachers, then by herders encroaching into protected areas

Lions are no match for a poisoned piece of meat.

[roamer65]

27. Then just round up the poachers and herders and feed them to the lions.

The Romans did do some things right.

Great way to cut down the carbon footprint.

[Coventina]

29. applause!!!

[milestogo]

14. Horrible.

[onit2day]

17. This is heartbreaking. I hope the penalties for buying Tusks etc is severe.

So sad. The greed and cruelty of poachers should be met with death.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

22. Just as China promises massive spending in Africa.

A coincidence, I'm sure.

[Chemisse]

23. This makes me sick. n/t

[oneshooter]

24. I was fired in Kenya for doing my job too well.

I was a white man, catching poachers. Had 3 Zulu and 3 Masai as trackers. We were GOOD, DAMN GOOD, TOO GOOD. I was relieved of my duties and my trackers released because I was told that a WHITE man killing BLACK poachers was not politically correct. Truth is I was stopping some profits from getting to the right people in the government.

[Bayard]

28. I would like to hear more about this.....

Were you actually killing poachers by catching them in the act? Not that I have a problem with that, just interested in the particulars. You were working for the Kenyan government?

I understand one guy killing one animal to feed his family. No one is eating elephants or rhino's. Reminds me of American history where millions of buffalo were killed just for their tongues, and the carcasses left to rot.

[oneshooter]

30. Most of the poachers were killed by the Zulu and Masia

I followed in the jeep and by the time I got there all was done. Yes, they do eat elephant, it is quite good.

I was a Game Ranger for the Kenyan government. Hired to catch poachers. If they fought us then they died.

As for the American Bison, most were killed for their hides, and to control the Plains Indians. The toungs were considered a prime piece of meat, and many were salted in barrels and sold.

Do you know what the hides were used for?

[defacto7]

26. I have nothing but contempt for these useless excuses for human beings.